Adaptational responses of Zygophyllum qatarense hadidi to stress conditions in a desert environment

Abstract

The succulent shrub Zygophyllum qatarense possesses a high degree of tolerance to both drought and high temperature, and in its desert environment adapts to stress by seasonal changes in leaf morphology, anatomy and physiology. At the onset of the dry season, the plant responds to water stress by leaf polymorphism in which it develops unifoliate xeromorphic leaves. As the dry season progresses, the plant tends to reduce its transpiring surface area by means of substantial leaf loss. As the desert environment become drier and hotter, the plant responds further to the existing double stress of drought and high temperature by adopting a bimodal stomatal behaviour.